The Vegas Renormalization
Season 2, Episode 21 -
Aired April 27, 2009

When Howard is dumped by Leslie Winkle, Leonard and Koothrappali take a heartbroken Wolowitz to Las Vegas to lift his spirits. Back in Pasadena, Sheldon's perfect evening doesn't go to plan when he is locked out of the apartment and forced to spend the night with Penny.

After Sheldon is locked out of his apartment and forced to the spend the night at Penny's, he asks her to sing Soft Kitty to him. Penny says that's only for when he's sick, but Sheldon points out that homesick is a type of sick, so Penny relents and sings the song.

Episode Quotes

Leonard: What were you doing at Penny's?Sheldon: Well, we had dinner, played some games, and then I spent the night. Oh, and you'll be happy to know that I now have a much better understanding of 'friends with benefits.'

Raj: What do you say, Howard?
Howard: I say Vegas baby!
Raj: What are you gonna tell your mother?
Howard: Sea World baby!

Episode Pictures (6)

Recap

When Howard receives a phone call from Leslie Winkle, he's devastated to learn she's ending their "friends with benefits" relationship. To lift their friend's spirits, Leonard and Raj decide to take Howard to Las Vegas to drown his sorrows with alcohol and gambling.

Sheldon, all set to enjoy his night alone, brings home Kadai Paneer for dinner. Sheldon explains to Penny that he could not usually eat this as Raj doesn't like Indian food, Howard is allergic to the peanuts, and Leonard can't digest the paneer (a type of farmer's cheese) in the dish. After Sheldon asks Penny not to disturb him on his perfect night, he realizes he's left his keys in the apartment and is unable to get into his "Fortress of Solitude". In Vegas, Leonard and Raj are getting ready for their night on the town, while Howard plans to stay in the hotel room and pore over Leslie's Facebook page.

Back in Pasadena, Penny invites Sheldon to have dinner with her until the apartment manager comes to let Sheldon back into his apartment. While Leonard and Raj enjoy playing slots and eating all-you-can-eat shrimp, Howard sends out desperate messages on Twitter. When an attractive woman hits on Raj, he and Leonard soon realize she's a prostitute. Although Raj is no longer interested, they hatch a plan to buoy Howard's spirits by setting her up with him as part of the "Jewish girlfriend experience" package.

At Penny's apartment, Sheldon and Penny eat dinner together while Sheldon struggles with small talk. After dinner, they play a game of 20 Questions but Penny abruptly ends the game after Sheldon asks inappropriate questions about her relationship with Leonard. In Vegas, Howard is convinced to come down to the casino when the guys rave about the shrimp bar. As Howard peruses the shrimp bar, the prostitute, Mikalya, walks over and introduces herself as Esther Rosenblatt.

With night approaching, Penny prepares her couch for Sheldon to sleep on but Sheldon says he does not want to reenact "The Tall Man from Cornwall" whose head was too big for his bed. Penny reluctantly lets Sheldon sleep in her bed. Back in Vegas, the prostitute lays on the Jewish experience for Howard. When he realizes all is not as it seems, he asks whether Leonard and Raj paid for her. When they admit she's a prostitute, Howard thanks them.

Sheldon is having trouble sleeping and asks Penny to sing Soft Kitty to him. Penny is touched when Sheldon thanks her for letting him sleep over, although he then quickly tells her to get out. The next morning, Leonard returns home and finds Sheldon emerging from Penny's apartment. Sheldon briefly fills Leonard in on the details of his evening, telling Leonard he now has a much better understanding of "friends with benefits".